TOPIC:

1900 - From the diary of Trooper A J Crosby, Natal Carbineers

Came to town immediately after breakfast. Just as I was leaving Corp. Tanner handed me 1/4 of a pumpkin which he had won for me at a raffle. I was so pleased that I gave him half. Went with Norton Smith to “Treadwells” where he had his photograph taken on horseback. The pony, which belongs to Mr. Goldmann (of Johannesburg fame) behaved so well that I decided to have mine taken, and I think it will be a success as the pony again stood superbly. Capt. Fred. Tatham and Dunn called during the evening for a game of whist, but as Major Elliott was laid up, we couldn’t make up the usual party of expert players. I was very glad as they discussed the situation in which I could join.

1900 - From the letters writer by Lt Col Park in Ladysmith

We have just got news of the relief of Kimberley (why, oh! why, doesn’t our own come?) and the rout of Cronje’s army and capture of five laagers by General French, and of Roberts being at Jacobsdaal; all of which is splendid and very cheering, as it is the first heavy defeat the Boers have had, and with hardly any loss on our side, excepting, perhaps, Elandslaagte, and the numbers engaged there were too small to make a crushing defeat of it.

I hope it will have the effect of drawing off the Boers from here, though it may only make them hang on the harder, as they see that Buller apparently cannot break through. The news makes one feel a little sick when one thinks that Roberts landed only a month ago or less, and has already relieved a garrison, captured Colesberg, and routed a Boer army.

There was a good deal of firing this morning, but it seemed a long way off. There has been firing so many days and nothing happens and there seems to be no result, and still we sit here manning all our defences daily at 4.30 a.m. and listening for guns and watching for signals which never come all day, and gnawing our horse beef and biscuit, and getting through the long hot days as best we can; but it is oh! so wearisome. Forgive this growl. I don’t know why, but I feel particularly low and depressed today, and I can’t growl to anyone here; it would be bad form, and one must keep up a cheerful demeanour, so you get the benefit.

I sent a scrap of letter to you last night, which I hope will get through and reach you some time (It did). I only had a few minutes to write it, and was limited to half-a sheet, and as it had to go open and be read and passed by the Intelligence people I couldn’t say any of the nice things I wanted to, nor give you any news beyond the fact that I was well. It was to go through with several others by a Kaffir runner to Buller’s force, and then be posted. The arrangement was made by a friend of Jacson’s in the Natal Carbineers Volunteers, who wrote and said they were sending a man through, and we could send one or two letters if they were sent down to him at once, at a subscription of from 2s.6d. to 10s. a letter, according to the number sent. If the man gets through safely we shall hear in a week or less. If not, we shall hear nothing, as the Boers will keep him. I don’t know why I feel despondent today, as things are, if anything, better, and certainly not worse, than yesterday, and after all I hardly expected relief much before the end of the month, and that is eleven days off. I think being so limp and weak has a bad effect, and I shan’t be able to get up muscle and strength till I get more food and regular exercise.

I think that is an unfortunate point of view, moreover, misleading too, Watson's use of that particular phrase suggests deliberate intent by the General Staff, I certainly do not think there was any intent, but, there very clearly had been a great deal of sheer incompetence.

djb wrote: From the diary of William Watson, Ladysmith, February 1900:

Another Miss Carbutt, has just died of fever. One more victim to Gladstone’s cowardice, and England’s dilatoriness. — At 3 o’clock this morning, the word was, “boot and Saddle.” all the troops were roused out. The pickets had sent in word, the town was likely to be attacked.

Truly sickening, when people think of the casualties incurred during the siege, they always tend to be military/naval rather than civil, this particular entry shows, if it ever actually needed showing, just how appalling a state of warfare can be for all those who are unfortunate enough to be involved.

djb wrote: 1900 - From the diary of Miss Bella Craw in Ladysmith

Another very hot day. A little shelling into the town. We had none very near us though. Another of the Carbutt girls died of enteric fever today, that is two during this Siege, only one of the unmarried ones left. A young Pinkney boy died next door at the Horsley's today of enteric, another is very bad, delirious. This sickness is cruel and no medicines or proper food to give them. Buller has had to retreat again, so when will he be here? Upon this diet I am afraid Mama and Wilfrid will get weaker.

I hear it - rumoured they are going to cut down rations again.

1900 - From the diary of Major George Tatham, Natal Carbineers

Kimberley news confirmed but we were informed that Buller had returned over the Tugela. Rations again reduced by order.

1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

Saturday, 17 February

The enemy are playing about the low-downest game they possibly could. At about 9.15 p.m. last evening they dropped a 94-pounder from Big Ben right into the women’s laager, giving them all a most terrific fright. It is a pity some retribution cannot be forced on them immediately after such acts are perpetrated, to teach and to show them what inhuman lumps of unwashed clay the dastard brutes are.

This morning a coach was seen to arrive at the enemy’s laager, presumably from Pretoria, around which the Boers all crowded. Possibly one of their big bugs arrived.

This has been a very quiet day all round, very few shells knocking about, but plenty of snipers’ bullets. Taking it all round these latter have not done so much damage as might be expected considering the closeness of their trenches, and although the Boer is so slim and wily, and shows himself only when it is impossible to help himself, our snipers have caused far more casualties amongst them than they amongst us.

The horse soup kitchen for the natives is going strong. Today I saw ten horses paraded in front of the butchers previous to going to the shambles; it seems very rough on the horses, but still it cannot be helped. The vet has been round and condemned twenty horses from each troop. It is far better to do this than let them starve to death, which they will do, as animal food is running very scarce, and the authorities do not wish to interfere with the natives’ cattle until absolutely compelled by force of circumstances to do so.